Apparatus for treating tobacco.



No. 672,806. Patented Apr.,23, l90|1.

J. K. PRUCTOR.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO.

(Application filed June 28, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 672,806. Patented Apr. 23, l90l.

J. K. PROCTUR.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO.

{Application filed June 28, 1899.)

No. 672,806. Patented Apr. 23, 1901. J. K. PROCTOR.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO.

(Application fi1ed June 2B, 1899.] (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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JOSIAH K. PROCTOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEPHILADELPHIA TEXTILE MACHINERY OOMPAN Y, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,806, dated April23, 1901.

l Application filed June 28, 1899. Serial No- 722,161. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH K. PROOTOR, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Tobacco, ofwhich tion.

The object of my invention is to treat tobacco that is in bundles bysweating or softhe following is a specifica- IO tening the tobacco whileit is suspended on i a longitudinal sectional view of my improvedmachine for treating tobacco. Figs. 2 and 2 ..are longitudinal sectionalviews, drawn to a .20 larger scale, showing the tobacco on the carriersor belts. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the Fig. 4 is a sectional viewon the line 4 4, Fig. 2*. Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5 5,Fig. 2*. Fig. 6 is a'sect-ional view on the .line 6 6, Fig. 2". Fig. 7is a sectional view on the line 7 7, Fig. 2*. Fig. 8 is a sectional viewon the line 8 8, Fig. 2 Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9, Fig.2 Fig. 10 is a view of the spraying device used c in thecooling-compartment. Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the spraying deviceused in the ordering compartment or compartments.

In describing my apparatus I have shown a single structure having theseveral com- 3 5 partments. The present structure is formed of a woodenframework inclosed with wooden tops and sides; but it will be understoodthat this construction may be varied according to the type of machineused.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A A are two endless chains which extendentirely through the case in the present instance and pass aroundsprocket-wheels a at each end of the machine, and these chains havesockets for the recep- 5 tion of the sticks on which the tobacco issuspended.

B is an endless perforated belt adapted to drums b b, and this belt inthe present instance extends only through a portion of the machine. Theendless perforated belt and the endless chains are driven, preferably,at the same speed, so that during a portion of the time that the tobaccois in the apparatus it is suspended from the sticks hanging loose,whileat other times it is carried by the endless perforated belt and thechains, as fully illustrated in the drawings.

I will now describe the construction of each of the compartments throughwhich the tobacco passes during the treatment.

D is what I term the sweating or softening compartment. In thiscompartment the tobacco as it is suspended from the sticks is thoroughlysoftened and the leaves are elongated and smoothed out. The compartmentis divided into two sections by a partition 01, Fig. 3, and in thispartition is a fan 0, which is driven in any suitable manner. Thepartition d does not extend to the top of the easing, and a passage isthus formed between the two sections of the compartment at the top, sothat the air as it circulates by the action of the fan passes downthrough the tobacco in one section and up the other section and over thepartition. In order to moisten and soften the tobacco in this compartment, 1 provide a steam-pipe 0, through which steam escapes into thecompartment, preferably at a point under the tobacco.

At the front opening in the case is an inclined plane d, on which thetobacco rests as it passes into the compartment, so that the opening forthe entrance of the tobacco. can be reduced, thus preventing the escapeof. moisture from the compartment at the entrance.

E is the drying-compartment, having a partition 9, so as to divide thecompartment into twosections e e, as shown in Fig. 5, and in -thesection e are heating-pipes e and in the 0 partition 6 is a fan 0, whichwill create a current of air down through the tobacco, up through thesteam-pipes, and over the partition e into the upper portion of thesection 6.

Between the sweating-compartment D and 5 the drying-compartment E is anoutlet or Waste compartment F, which receives waste air from thechambers D and E. The partition f in this compartment F extends to thefull height of the compartment, forming two sections f f Fig. 4.-, andthe section f communicates with a stack f A table f exapartition g intotwo sections g and in tends a certain distance under the belt B in thiscompartment, so that the current of air may be drawn more readily fromthe compartment E. In the partition is a fan 0 which 'tends to draw theair from the under side of in the present instance, and this belt issituated slightly below the upper run of the chains, so that the tobaccoas it passes from the sweatingcompartment is carried onto the perforatedbelt and the main body of tobacco is supported by this belt, so that thecurrents of ail-circulating through the several compartments will passmore readily through the tobacco than when suspended, as in thesweating-compartment.

Referring again to the drying-compartment, the air circulates downthrough the tobacco into the heating-section, then over the tobacco,thoroughly drying it before the tobacco enters the cooling-compartment,which is the next compartment in succession.

The cooling-compartment G is divided by the section g isa sprayingdevice G, Fig. 10, for introducing water into the air in a fine spray.This spraying device consists in the present instance of a trough m, inwhich revolves a perforated cylinder m, and in the center of thecylinder is a perforated air-' will be thrown off from the screen by theblast of air into a fine spray, which will readily combine with the airand thoroughly saturate the tobacco, cooling it and giving it suificientdampness so that it will be in proper condition to enter the firstordering-compart ment. In the partition 9 is a circulatingfan 0 H is thefirst ordering-compartment, which is divided by a partition it into twosections h k and in the partition is a fan 0 for creating a current ofair through the compartment. In the side of the ordering-compartment isa slot h and on the outside of the compartment is an atomizer L, towhich are connected a steam-pipe land a water-pipe l, as clearly shownin Figs. 11 and 12. The atomizer is so arranged in front of the slot inthe side of the casing that the suction created by the jets will causeair to be drawn in from the outside and to pass in with the spray tocoolthe tobacco.

partment I, so that the damp heated air from the firstordering-compartment will be carried to the second ordering-compartment.The temperature of the first compartment will thereby be reduced and thesaturation of the air in the same will be increased. The damp heated airpassing from the compartment H will pass through the chamber H and therewill be subjected to the action of the fans, as well as to one or morespraying devices if, so that it will be highly saturated and cooled asit enters the second ordering-compartment to maintain the circulation ofcool and highly-saturated air in said compart ment.

J is another waste-com partment,wh ich may be constructed similar tolthewaste-compartment F, taking oif the surplus air from the compartment Ias well as the compartment K, which adjoins it. This compartment K isthe. third ordering-compartment and has a partition 10, dividing it intotwo sections 70 I9 and in the partition is a circulating-fan C Theperforated belt terminates at the end of the secondordering-compartment; but the endless chains extend through the, thirdordering-compartinent and beyond the end thereof, so that the tobacco asit leaves the second ordering-compartment and enters the thirdordering-compartment passes from the endless belt and is againsuspended, from the.

sticks. While it is in this condition, thefinal ordering takes place,and the tobacco can then be readily removed from the chainsby collectingthe sticks as they are carried to the final ordering-compartment.

Each of the compartments may have the spraying devices described inconnection with the first ordering-compartment, as shown by dottedlines, Figs. 8 and 9, or pans or saturated cloths may be used withoutdeparting from the main features of the invention. It will also beunderstood that the third ordering-compartments and adapted to supportsticks on which the tobacco is suspended d u ring its passage throughthe sweating-compartment, and arranged so that the tobacco will also besupported by the belt in passing through the drying-compartment,substantially as described.

2. The combination in a machine for treating tobacco, of the casing, asweating-compartment, a drying-compartment, a coolingcompartment and oneor more ordering-compartments in the order named, an endless perforatedcarrying-belt passing through the drying, cooling and orderingcompartments, an endless conveyor passing through the entire machine andadapted to support sticks on which the tobacco is suspended, so that thetobaccoas it passes through the sweating-compartment will be suspendedfrom the sticks but will be supported by the belt in passing through thedrying, cooling and ordering compartments, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a machine for treating tobacco, of a casing, asweating-compartment, a drying-compartment, a cooling-compartment, andtwo ordering-compartments arranged in the order named, an endlessperforated carrying-belt passing through the drying, cooling and one ofthe ordering compartments, an endless belt passing through the entiremachine and adapted to support sticks on which the tobacco is suspended,so that the tobacco as it passes through the sweatingcompartment andfinal ordering-compartment will be suspended from thesticks but will besupported by the belt in passing through the drying, cooling and firstordering compartments, substantially as described.

4:. The combination in a machine having an ordering-compartment, ofmeans for support ing material to be ordered, means for circulating airin said compartment, an opening in one of the walls of the compartmentother than that at which material for treatment is introduced, anatomizer exterior to the compartment opposite the opening, said openingbeing so situated relatively to the material under treatment that thevapor from the atomizer will not be sprayed directly upon said material,substantially as described.

5. The combination of a moistening-chamber, means for traversingmaterial through the chamber, a fan within the chamber for circulatingair therein, a slot in one side of the casing, an atomizer exterior ofthe casing and in front of the slot, said atomizer having a series ofnozzles, and pipes coupled to the atomizer whereby vapor will be sprayedthrough the slot and air will enter with the vapor by suction created bythe jets and by the circulating-fan, substantially as described.

6. The combination in an ordering-chamber, of means for traversingmaterial through the chamber, a fan for circulating air in such chamber,an atomizer exterior thereto, said atomizer having a series of nozzlesoutside of and arranged to discharge into the chamber, and a pipecoupled to the atomizer, whereby the fluid may be sprayed through thenozzles directly into the chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSIAH K. PROCTOR.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN.

